Joseph D. & Donna K. Bates

Joseph D. Bates and Donna K. Bates passed unexpectedly on May 1, 2023.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents John and Wanda (Gordon) Bates, sister Bonnie (Jerry) Lance, sister-in-law Martha “Billie” Bates and brother-in-law Ron Caringer.

Joe was born on July 29, 1949, in Princeton, IN.

He was a graduate of Princeton High School, class of 1967.

After graduation, Joe served his country during the Vietnam War in the United States Marine Corps from 1969 to 1971 and received the rank of Corporal.  After his discharge from the armed services, he began pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

He began his career in Chicago, IL with Bankers Life Casualty Insurance Company. This is where he met his future wife, Donna.  During his career working in the Insurance Field, he held the positions of CPA, Controller and Vice President.

Donna is preceded in death by her parents Theodore and Kathryn (Sprincz) Pladis, aunt Mae Sprincz, uncle William Sprincz, aunt Diane Sprincz, uncle Steve Sprincz, aunt Emma Sprincz, aunt Julia Rediger, uncle Arthur Rediger, and cousin Janis Rumbley.

Donna was born in Chicago, IL on May 18, 1951. 

She was a graduate of Carl Schurz High School, class of 1969.

She graduated with an Associate’s degree in Applied Science from Wilbur Wright College, Class of 1971. She began her career in Chicago, IL with Bankers Life Casualty Insurance Company.  This is where she met her future husband, Joe. Donna was also a teacher’s assistant for North Elementary School in Crystal Lake, IL for over 20 years.

Donna began her singing career in 1969 with the Melodeers chorus of Sweet Adelines International and they went on to win multiple international competitions. In 1978, the Melo-Edge quartet was formed. In 1983, Melo-Edge became the International Champions and Donna was named a Queen of Harmony. She performed with Melo-Edge on three international cruises, the Phil Donahue Show, and a Toni Tennille special.  She was also a master director and an instructor for the Sweet Adeline International Organization.

On August 8, 1981, Donna and Joe were united in marriage in Chicago, IL. On Aprill 11, 1986, they welcomed their first daughter Sarah M. Bates into the world. On September 14, 1987, their second daughter Abbie K. (Bates) Baer was born.

Throughout their lives, what brought them the greatest amount of joy was the time they spent with family. They frequently traveled to visit family members across the Midwest. They took pride in each accomplishment and milestone their daughters achieved. They thoroughly enjoyed watching Abbie play sports and bringing the dogs downtown to Sarah's first home in the city of Chicago. Donna spent most of her free time tending to her garden while Joe was always in the garage working on projects. They both had a big heart for animals and took their dogs on nightly walks together.  

Joe is survived by his daughters, Sarah Bates (fiancé Matthew Raines), Chicago, IL, and Abbie (Bates) Baer (wife Morgan Baer), Glen Carbon, IL.  Sisters Patricia (Bates) O’Rourke (husband Tim O’Rourke), Bedford, IN, Priscilla (Bates) Caringer, Princeton, IN, Barbara (Bates) Krieg (husband Dale Krieg), Princeton, IN, Pamela Bates, Evansville, IN, and sister-in-law Maureen (Pladis) Brzinski, Poplar Grove, IL. Brothers Robert “Bud” Bates, Owensboro, KY, Jerry Bates, Hazelton, IN, Jeff Bates (wife Donna Bates), Patoka, IN, Tim (wife Lana) Bates, Princeton, IN, Tom Bates (wife Karen Bates), Saint Peters, MO, Edward Bates (wife Vikki Bates), Camden, SC, and several nieces and nephews.

Donna is survived by her daughters, Sarah Bates (fiancé Matthew Raines), Chicago, IL, and Abbie (Bates) Baer (wife Morgan Baer), Glen Carbon, IL.  Sister Maureen (Pladis) Brzinski Poplar Grove, IL, sisters-in-law Patricia (Bates) O’Rourke (husband Tim O’Rourke), Bedford, IN, Priscilla (Bates) Caringer, Princeton, IN, Barbara (Bates) Krieg (husband Dale Krieg), Princeton, IN, and Pamela Bates, Evansville, IN.  Brothers-in-law Robert “Bud” Bates, Owensboro, KY, Edward Bates (wife Vikki Bates), Camden, SC, Jerry Bates, Hazelton, IN, Jeff Bates (wife Donna Bates), Patoka, IN, Tim Bates (wife Lana Bates), Princeton, IN, Tom Bates (Karen Bates), Saint Peters, MO and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the “Coronet Club” of Sweet Adelines International, as a memorial to Donna and to the Gibson County Humane Society, Princeton, Indiana, as a memorial to Joe. 

Visitation for Donna and Joe will be May 10, 2023, at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave. Crystal Lake, IL 60014 from 3:00pm to 9:00pm with services at 7:00PM.  Church services will be May 11, 2023, at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church 7313 Waukegan Rd., Niles, IL. 60714  at 10:30am.  Family and Friends are asked to arrive at Church by 10:00AM. Interment with Military Honors for Joe to follow at Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, IL.

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